Overcup oak tree named &#39;qlftb&#39;

ABSTRACT

A Overcup Oak tree named ‘QLFTB’ having dense, upright, uniform branching habit, yellow-orange-red fall color, and fast growth rate and also which is capable of being reproduced reliably using vegetative cuttings.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofQuercus Iyrata, Overcup Oak, which has been given the varietal name‘QLFTB.’ I discovered my new tree in 1996 as a chance seedling ofunknown parentage growing in a cultivated area in Statesboro, Ga.

[0002] The seeds were collected from a single tree in Athens, Ga. Theseeds were collected in the fall of 1991 and planted into seedbeds inlate winter of 1992. In the spring of 1993, bare-root liners weretransplanted to a nursery field. In January of 1998, my new tree wasmoved to an observation site in Oconee County, Ga., where it hasremained since that time. It is now about eight and one half years oldfrom a seed.

[0003] As I observed the initially discovered tree of my new variety,the uniqueness of this tree became apparent because of a dense, upright,uniform branching habit, yellow-orange-red fall color, and fast growthrate as compared to a typical seedling. It was observed that my new treegrew approximately 30% faster than most of the other Overcup Oak Treesin the field that were planted from the same seed source. Thesecharacteristics distinguish my new tree from other typical Overcup Oaksknown to me.

[0004] In 1996, this new tree was successfully propagated by vegetativecuttings at my direction, and the progeny have thus far proven to retainthe dense, upright, uniform branching habit, fall color, and fast growthrate of the initially discovered tree even as smaller plants.

[0005] I observed this tree of my new variety for a period of time andbelieve it is particularly useful as a street tree and for use oncommercial sites where growing conditions are difficult, particularlyareas that may be wet for a portion having the year. My new oak tree canalso be used on golf courses, parks, and other areas where a tree havingthese characteristics is needed. Its fast growth rate offers growers anaccelerated finished product over a typical seedling, allowing for aquicker crop rotation.

[0006] Cultivated Overcup Oak trees, insofar as I am aware, arerepresented in the industry solely by seedling material. AlthoughOvercup Oak trees are more consistent from seed than many other oaks,there is still a degree of variance in both the landscape and innurseries. Seedling Overcup Oak trees can be variable in growth rate,habit, and fall color. My new tree has a dense, upright, uniformbranching habit, better fall color, and a faster growth rate incomparison to other varieties of Overcup Oak trees of which I am aware.

[0007] Overcup Oak trees in youth are typically pyramidal-oval andoval-rounded to rounded in habit at maturity. On average these treesreach 40′ to 60′ high and wide. However, the national champion is 156′tall by 120′ wide. Overcup Oak trees are native to bottomlands where itis found in sloughs and backwater areas from New Jersey to Florida, westto Missouri and Texas. Overcup Oak trees perform best in acid soils, anddo well in the heat, drought, and humidity of the Southeast. These treesalso do well in the lower temperatures and high precipitation of theEast and Mid-Atlantic as well as the more arid Midwest. Overcup Oaktrees are known to be hardy in USDA Zones 5-9. Overcup Oak trees arerelatively easy to transplant because of a superior root system comparedto other oaks.

[0008] My new variety has been asexually propagated by vegetativecuttings at my direction. This propagation and observation of theresulting progeny have proven the unique combination of characteristicsof my new variety to be firmly fixed and reproduce true to type.Furthermore, these observations have confirmed that my new varietyrepresents a new and improved variety of Overcup Oak tree asparticularly evidenced by the dense, upright uniform branching habit,fall color, and fast growth rate and which can reliably be asexuallypropagated using vegetative propagation techniques.

[0009] The accompanying photographs depict the color of the tree andfoliage of my new variety as nearly as is reasonably possible to makethe same in a color illustration of this character.

[0010]FIG. 1 is a photograph of the initially discovered tree of my newvariety in summer leaf.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a photograph of the initially discovered tree of my newvariety during winter.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a close up of the upper side of two single leaves from atree of my new variety.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a close up of the under side of two single leaves from atree of my new variety.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a close up of typical fall leaf color of my new variety.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a close up of the trunk of the initially discoveredtree.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a close up of the typical branching habit of my newvariety.

[0017] My new ‘QLFTB’ variety of Overcup Oak tree is currently growingat an observation site in Oconee County, Ga. It is located in an area ofOconee County that has a clay loam soil type. Oconee County is in USDAHardiness Zone 7 and receives an average rainfall of 50 inches eachyear, although actual rainfall in any given year can typically rangebetween 30 and 60 inches. The hardiness of my new variety has yet to bedetermined.

[0018] The following is a detailed description of my new variety ofOvercup Oak tree with color terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society (RHS) color chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society of London. The observations are of the initiallydiscovered tree growing at the observation site in Oconee County, Ga. Mynew tree has not been observed under all growing conditions and thusvariations may occur as a result of different growing conditions.

[0019] My new variety of Overcup Oak tree is characterized by a dense,upright, uniform branching habit, yellow-orange-red fall color, and afast growth rate (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 7). The initially discovered treeis currently 9.75 inches in caliper at 12 inches above the ground aftereight and one half years. The initially discovered tree is currently 24feet high and 16 feet wide with a height to width ration of 1.5.

[0020] The bark of my new tree is typical of the species, being smoothto slightly rough and gray-brown on young trees, and becoming gray togray-green and scaly at maturity (FIG. 6), reminiscent of Quercus alba.However, it is not quite as scaly as a typical Quercus alba. The colorof the mature bark is also typical of the species, with the color beingshown in FIG. 6, light gray-green (RHS 188C) with patches of lightgreen-white (RHS 157C).

[0021] The branching habit of my new tree is upright pyramidal-oval.Although not determined, with maturity, my new tree is expected to be amore rounded-oval. Branches at the base of the tree typically emerge atabout 80 degree angles to the trunk. Branches at the top of the treetypically emerge at about a 50 degree angle to the leader and tend toflatten with age (FIGS. 1, 2, and 7).

[0022] Leaves of my new tree are alternate, simple, typicallyobovate-oblong in shape, typically about 6 to 8″ long, and typicallyabout 1-1/2 to 3″ wide, acute or obtuse, cuneate at the base, and deeplylyrate-pinnatified. The upper leaf surface in summer (FIG. 3) is a darkgreen (RHS 131A), and the lower leaf surface (FIG. 4) is a lighter green(RHS 137C). Fall color (FIG. 5) is typically yellow-orange-red (e.g. RHS34A).

[0023] The buds are typical of the species, being imbricate, 1/8 to 1/4″long, and brown with gray-brown, stipular appendages nestled in acluster of terminal buds.

[0024] My new variety has not yet been observed to produce flowers,pollen or acorns.

[0025] The root system of my new tree is a very fibrous root systemtypical of the species.

THE PLANT

[0026] Parentage: Discovered as a chance seedling of unknown parentagegrowing in a cultivated area in Statesboro, Ga.

[0027] Tree Shape: My new tree is dense and upright with the lowerbranches being upswept. The branching as a whole displays an uprightpyramidal oval in youth.

[0028] Trunk: Single leader.

[0029] Bark: The bark of my new tree is typical of the species, beingsmooth to slightly rough and gray-brown on young trees, and becominggray to gray-green (RHS 1 88C) and scaly on mature trees, reminiscent ofQuercus alba with patches of light green-white (RHS 157C).

[0030] Branches: Dense, upright uniform branching habit. Branches at thebase of the tree typically emerge at about 80 degree angles to thetrunk. Branches at the top of the tree typically emerge at about 50degree angles to the leader. Thus, the branches tend to flatten withage.

[0031] Leaves: Leaves are alternate, simple, typically obovate-oblong inshape, typically about 6 to 8″ long, typically about 1-1/2 to 3″ wide,acute or obtuse, cuneate at the base, and deeply lyrate-pinnatified.Leaves are typically dark green in summer (upper leaf surface RHS 131A,lower leaf surface lighter green, RHS 137C) and yellow-orange-red in thefall (e.g. RHS 34A).

[0032] Buds: The buds are typical of the species, being imbricate, 1/8to 1/4″ long, and brown with gray-brown, stipular appendages nestled ina cluster of terminal buds.

[0033] Pollen and Acorns: None observed.

[0034] Root System: The root system is typical of the species. Oakstypically have coarse root systems, but Overcup Oak trees have a veryfibrous root system as compared to the genus.

[0035] Hardiness: Trees being grown in hardiness Zone 7. Winterhardiness not yet determined.

[0036] Pest and Disease Resistance: No unusual pest or diseaseresistance or susceptibility observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Overcup Oak tree substantiallyas herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to noveltyby its unique dense, upright, uniform branching habit, yellow-orange-redfall color, and fast growth rate.